Savage World •••Daryl Dixon•••

Family Hunting

"Ain't we got nothin that can cut this thing off her?" Daryl looked to Rick as he held up the long chain and handle that connected to the ugly collar that dug into her neck with every breath she took.

"I don't think I've seen anything that could. Is it hurting her?"

"What's it matter if it's hurtin her?! Some jackass slapped an animal collar 'round her neck like property and it needs to come off! See this?!" He ripped off a piece of the thready towel out of the padding and tossed it to the cell floor. "That's her blood. Her neck is covered in blood and holes from the spikes in this collar and the longer it stays the more I wanna go out huntin that bastard down and give 'em just as many holes as she got. So get this goddamn thing off my kid or so help me I will do the same to each and every one of ya!" Asher lightly shifted in her sleep, a small whine echoing down her tube when she pressed down on a sensitive bruise.

Daryl and the group tensed up for immediate action to help her, but she relaxed again and continued to sleep. Fingers ran through tangled hair softly as he pressed his forehead to the top of her head. Everyone shuffled out of the room looking for something to use for cutting off the collar. She needed it off and Rick needed Daryl to help get Maggie and Glenn back from this Governor character in Woodbury. After an hour Carl came running through the cell block with a rusted pair of bolt cutters in his hands.

"Dad! Will this help?" Rick took the cutters from Carl and pushed the rusty blades open and closed a few times to see if they would still work. The blades may be dull though but it's better than nothing. Maggie and Glenn took the bolt cutters with them on their mission for baby formula for Judith.

"Let's go find out." The two ran for the cell that Asher and Daryl were staying in, the redneck on instant edge when they came rushing through the door. Catching sight of the bolt cutters in Rick's hands, he jumped into action. Gently maneuvering around her, he sat on the cot in front of her with her back facing Rick so he could get to the padlock that bolted the ends of the collar together next to the giant D-ring that connected the chain.

"Alright, let's be real careful." He pulled open the rusty cutters and slowly lined up the blades with the padlock bars, which he noticed were almost too thick to fit inside the blades.

"Daryl, we may have a problem." He glared up from Asher's blonde hair as Rick spoke.

"Problem? What problem, just cut the damn thing off!" Rick nodded and closed the small distance between blade and bolt then started to push down on the handles as hard as he could.

"Carl, help me would ya?" They both held one end of the cutters and tried to push them together. "Goddammit! These ain't working, Daryl. The bolt's too thick and the blades are too dull. We need something else."

"Shit! Where are we gonna get something better than these rusted pieces of shit?!" Rick sighed and ran his hands over his face as he paced the room in thought.

"Woodbury." Daryl lifted a brow at the cop as he gently let the girl back on the bed.

"What?" Hershel hobbled his way into the cell so he could check on Asher and give her some food and water.

"Woodbury. That's where Michonne said Maggie and Glenn were taken. And Daryl... there's one more thing about that story. She said that the guy who took them... was Merle." Daryl froze in shock and glared up at Rick.

"And you didn't tell me?! That's my fucking brother!"

"Yeah! You're fucking brother who took Glenn and Maggie and handed over to this Governor that could be doing god knows what to them!" Daryl jerked to his feet and stood a few inches from Rick's face. The Grimes man looked calmly back him him as he glared and lowly grumbled his rage.

"You want that thing off her neck? Woodbury will have it." Daryl's lip twitched as he fought back the urge to stab the man in front of him. He was right, this town may have everything he needs to get that brace removed and help bandage the holes in her neck. And it had Merle.

"Fine. Go to Woodbury, but I can't leave her. Not again."

"I need you to come with me. You're the best shot we've got." Daryl fisted his hands at his sides and bared teeth at Rick.

"No! She needs me!" Hershel broke into the conversation now.

"Daryl, answer this for me. Do you know how to gut a person?" Daryl turned to the elder man as he poured water down her tube.

"Yeah, 'course I do." Hershel nodded.

"Do you know how to cut someone's throat open without them making a sound?" Daryl nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What's yer point?"

"Well do you know how to remove a feeding tube without slicing open the trachea like a gut bag?" The Dixon's angry expression started to fall. "Asher is safe here, Glenn and Maggie are not. They need someone who knows how to make the kill. So you go to Woodbury, and you bring them back to us. Asher ain't going anywhere." He nodded and looked over at Asher as she slept. That collar was the ugliest thing he's seen, but it wasn't gonna come off by sheer want.

"Alright fine. We're going to Woodbury." Rick and Carl left, Hershel soon after once Asher got what she needed. Daryl knelt on the ground by the cot and deeply sighed as he skimmed the length of her nose.

"Hey, not sure if ya can hear me, but I've gotta go. I won't be gone long, gettin Glenn and Maggie and somethin to cut that fuckin collar off. And... I'm goin to get Merle. He's out there, in Woodbury and I'm gonna bring him back too." He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead before pressing his temple to hers.

"I love you, baby girl."